Ryan Elias

Last updated

Ryan Elias
Full nameRyan James Elias
Date of birth (1995-01-07) 7 January 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth Carmarthen, Wales
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight112 kg (247 lb; 17 st 9 lb)
School Bro Myrddin Welsh Comprehensive School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Current team Scarlets
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2013–2016 Carmarthen Quins 45 (11)
2013– Scarlets 167 (45)
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2014–2015 Wales U20 8 (0)
2017– Wales 41 (20)

Ryan James Elias (born 7 January 1995) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for United Rugby Championship club Scarlets and the Wales national team. [1]

Contents

Club career

Elias played youth rugby for Carmarthen Athletic, where his grandfather once served as club chairman. [2] He later made the switch to rivals Carmarthen Quins, while progressing through the Scarlets academy. [3]

Elias made his professional debut for the Scarlets on 17 November 2013, against the Saracens. [4]

With first choice hooker and fellow Bro Myrddin graduate Ken Owens injured, Elias started the semi-final against Leinster and final against Munster, winning the 2016–17 Pro12 title with the Scarlets.

Elias made his 100th appearance for the Scarlets on 5 January 2019, with a win against the Dragons. [5] He made his 150th appearance for the club on 17 December 2022, against the Cheetahs in the Challenge Cup. [6] Elias signed an extension with the Scarlets on 14 April 2023. [7]

International career

Elias featured for Wales U18 in 2013, and progressed into the Wales U20 ranks in 2014, making eight appearances for the team.In May 2017 Elias was named in the Wales senior squad for the tests against Tonga and Samoa in June 2017. [8]

He made his debut on 16 June 2017, off the bench against Tonga at Eden Park [9] and started the next test against Samoa.

In his third test appearance, Elias came off the bench against South Africa on 2 June 2018, scoring a late try to put Wales in the lead and ultimately secure the win. [10]

Elias won the Grand Slam with Wales in the 2019 Six Nations, appearing off the bench against Italy, as Wales won their 11th match in a row. [11]

Having been named in the Wales squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Elias made one appearance, starting in the win against Uruguay. [12]

Often shifting between a starting position and the bench, Elias was named to start all four of Wales's fixtures in the 2021 end-of-year rugby union internationals. He scored three tries, including a brace against Fiji. He retained the starting hooker position for the 2022 Six Nations, starting four of the five matches. [13]

Elias started all three of the tests during the 2022 mid-year rugby union tests, as Wales secured a first ever win in South Africa. [13] He made three appearances off the bench during the 2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals, and was yellow carded in the final match against Australia. [13]

Elias missed the 2023 Six Nations Championship with an Achilles injury. [7]

Career statistics

List of international tries

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
12 June 2018 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C., United StatesFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 22–2022–20 2018 Wales rugby union tour to Argentina and the United States
214 November 2021 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, WalesFlag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 5–1038–23 2021 end-of-year rugby union internationals
319–23
420 November 2021 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, WalesFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 11–1029–28 2021 end-of-year rugby union internationals

as of 20 November 2021

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Rees</span> British Lions & Wales international rugby union footballer

Matthew Rees is a Welsh former professional rugby union footballer who played as a hooker. After beginning his career with Tonyrefail RFC and Merthyr RFC, he made his professional debut for Pontypridd RFC in 2001. With the arrival of regional rugby in Wales in 2003, he joined the Celtic Warriors, but their closure a year later led to him signing for the Llanelli Scarlets. He played more than 180 matches for the Scarlets, captaining them on several occasions, leading to his first Wales call-up in 2005.

Adam Mathias Jones is a Welsh former professional rugby union player who played as a lock. He captained the Wales Under-19 team and earned his first caps for the Wales senior team as a replacement against England and Scotland in the 2006 Six Nations Championship. He began his career with Swansea RFC before a spell in England with Saracens and Harlequins, before returning to Wales with Cardiff RFC. At the start of the Welsh regional era, he signed for the Llanelli Scarlets and played for them for four seasons, before a seven-year spell with the Newport Gwent Dragons. He also made appearances for Llandovery RFC, Carmarthen Quins RFC, Cross Keys RFC and Newport RFC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Owens</span> Welsh rugby player

Kenneth James Owens is a former Welsh rugby union player who played as a hooker for the Scarlets and Wales. He made his debut for the Scarlets in 2006, taking over from Matthew Rees as their first-choice hooker upon Rees' departure for the Cardiff Blues in 2013. He also served as backup to Rees, among others, for Wales following his debut against Namibia at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. In 2016, he took over as Wales' first-choice hooker, and in January 2023, following almost a year out with a back injury, he was named as captain for the 2023 Six Nations Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhys Priestland</span> Welsh rugby union player

Rhys Priestland is a Welsh international rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Cardiff Rugby and the Wales national team. Although he primarily plays as a fly-half, he is also capable of playing at full-back. Born in Llangathen, Carmarthenshire, he began his career with Llanelli RFC before progressing to the Scarlets regional side. After eight years with the Scarlets, he moved to England to play for Bath in the English Premiership, where he spent six seasons before returning to Wales with Cardiff Rugby. He made his Wales debut in 2011, and earned 50 caps – including being named in the squad for the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups – before his move to England made him ineligible for selection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Turnbull</span> Wales international rugby union footballer

Joshua Turnbull is a Welsh former professional rugby union player, who played in the back row and second row. He played for the Scarlets and Cardiff Rugby in the United Rugby Championship, and at club level for Carmarthen Quins, Llanelli and Llandovery. He played internationally for Wales at under-16, under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels, Wales 7s and earned 13 caps for the senior team between 2011 and 2022. Born in Haverfordwest, he is a fluent Welsh speaker.

Aled Davies is a Welsh rugby union player who plays at scrum-half for Cardiff Blues.

Samson Lee is a former Wales international rugby union player. Lee played for the Scarlets, as well as local teams Llanelli and Ammanford. His position is prop forward. Lee has represented Wales, making his debut against Argentina in November 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Williams (rugby union)</span> Welsh rugby union player

Jordan Rhys Williams is a Welsh rugby union footballer who plays for the Dragons. His regular position is at full-back, but he has also played at fly-half and on the wing. He began his career with amateur side New Dock Stars RFC, before being signed by Llanelli RFC and ultimately breaking into the Scarlets regional side. However, he struggled to find playing time with the Scarlets and moved to Bristol in 2016, only to return to Wales with the Dragons two years later. He has also played internationally for Wales at under-16, under-18 and under-20 level, as well as for the Wales Sevens team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liam Williams (rugby union)</span> Wales and British Lions international rugby union player

Liam Brian Williams is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays for Kubota Spears in Japan Rugby League One. At international level, he has represented Wales, having made his test debut against New Zealand in 2012, and the British & Irish Lions in 2017 and 2021. Williams has previously played for Scarlets, Saracens, and Cardiff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owen Williams (rugby union, born 1992)</span> Welsh rugby player (born 1992)

Owen Williams is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for the Ospreys. He has represented Wales and Wales U20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gareth Thomas (rugby union, born 1993)</span> Welsh rugby union player

Gareth Thomas is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club Ospreys and the Wales national team.

Torin Myhill is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for Carmarthen Quins as a hooker. He is a former Wales Under-20 international.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaun Evans (rugby union)</span> Welsh rugby union footballer

Shaun Evans is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for United Rugby Championship team Scarlets as a hooker.

Taylor Davies is a Welsh rugby union player who plays as a hooker. Born in Swansea, he came through the ranks with the Scarlets and played for Llandovery and Llanelli before making his regional debut in 2016. He also made one appearance for Carmarthen Quins in 2019. In 2021, he joined the Dragons on a short-term loan as a front-row option for their Pro14 Rainbow Cup matches, starting all three matches against their regional rivals, including his parent club. He returned to the Dragons on loan for the 2021–22 season; he made 17 appearances and scored two tries, including one against the Scarlets on 16 April 2022. In April 2023, Davies was named as one of 15 players leaving the Scarlets at the end of the 2022–23 season.

Kieran Richard Hardy is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for United Rugby Championship club Ospreys and the Wales national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ioan Lloyd</span> Welsh rugby union player

Ioan Lloyd is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for United Rugby Championship club Scarlets and the Wales national team.

Jac Price is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for United Rugby Championship side Scarlets. His preferred position is lock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kemsley Mathias</span> Welsh rugby union player

Kemsley Mathias is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club Scarlets and the Wales national team.

Eddie James is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for the Scarlets and Wales national team as a centre.

Evan Lloyd is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for United Rugby Championship club Cardiff and the Wales national team.

References

  1. ↑ "Ryan Elias". Scarlets. Scarlets Regional Limited. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  2. ↑ "The Player Column: Ryan Elias - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  3. ↑ "International Honours (E) Ryan Elias – Carmarthen Quins : Official Website" . Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  4. ↑ "Elias seeking150th Euro celebration in Italy - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  5. ↑ "Scarlets team to face Dragons". www.unitedrugby.com. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  6. ↑ "Wales hooker Elias hits 150 not out for Scarlets". BBC Sport. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Wales hooker Elias signs new Scarlets contract". BBC Sport. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  8. ↑ Wales squad June 2017
  9. ↑ "Tonga 6-24 Wales: Alex Cuthbert shines in scrappy win for Wales". Sky Sports. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  10. ↑ Bywater, Alex (2 June 2018). "Ryan Elias's late try earns Wales win over South Africa in Washington". the Guardian. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  11. ↑ "Italy 15-26 Wales: Six Nations 2019 — as it happened". the Guardian. 9 February 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  12. ↑ "'I've always wanted to play in a World Cup'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  13. 1 2 3 "Ryan Elias". Welsh Rugby Union. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.